A bombykol electrochemical receptor sensor and its kinetics

Abstract This study aimed to explore the interaction between bombykol and BmOR1 and also provide a paradigm for agroforestry pest control. The electrochemical biosensor signal amplification system was used: nanogold with horseradish peroxidase. An electrochemical bilayer nanogold membrane receptor sensor was developed using the following schemes and processes: twice self-assembly of nanogold and succeeding absorption of Bombyx mori olfactory receptor 1 (BmOR1); sex pheromone–binding protein; spectral scanning and transmission electron microscope to characterize nanogold sol; and atomic force microscope, cyclic voltammetry, and AC impedance methods to characterize individual processes of sensor assembly. The amperometric I – T curve was adopted to measure the response current upon interaction with different concentrations of bombykol (diluted in phosphate-buffered saline) and BmOR1. The results demonstrated the receptor–ligand interaction pattern, which was similar to enzymatic reaction kinetics, with the activation constant Ka of up to 8.57 × 10 −20  mol/L and signal magnification of about 10,000-fold. In this study, the simulation of intracellular receptor signaling cascade by an electrochemical signal amplification system helped in directly measuring BmOR1–bombykol ligand interaction and exploring the kinetics after the self-assembly of BmOR1 on the biosensor. It provided a novel platform for future studies on receptor–ligand interaction.